FINALLY! I finally have an update now! AND it is over 5,000 words, just like I promised yall, because yall were amazing and got this story up to 55 comments! Woohoo!
Okay, first order of business. Percy is 17. do not ask me why, that is just how I wanted to make him.
Second, leave me lots of reviews so I know how I did! I love getting input from yall. It literally makes my entire day when I see I have a review on my story.
Third, and last, I have started college so updates might be slow. But do not worry because they will come!
DISCLAIMER: I do not own HP or PJ
Hadrian leisurely made his way to the Big House, silently mulling over his father's words. While he knew he couldn't do Percy's quest for him, if he thought Percy was in over his head, he would step in. Hadrian knew that Percy had to make his own decisions and learn to deal with the consequences, but knowing that his mate could possibly be seriously injured during this quest rubbed him the wrong way. Shaking his head and sighing as he kicked a rock, Hadrian lifted his eyes from the ground and instantly froze at the sight before him.
Hadrian felt his eyes narrow dangerously and his magic lash out viciously at the blue eyed daughter of Athena, Annabeth he had to remind himself, who was resting a casual hand on Percy's bicep. Withholding a snarl that rose up his throat, Hadrian gripped ahold of his magic tightly, not allowing it to incinerate the pathetic mortal.
Reigning in his magic, and his building temper, Hadrian casually approaches the duo, silently sending an itching hex at the chit and watching in no small amount of satisfaction as she removed her hand and began itching her side.
"Good morning Percy." Hadrian said flashing Percy a bright white smile.
Percy responded with an easy grin of his own. "Morning Hadrian, sleep well?"
"Extremely," Hadrian's eyes cut over to Annabeth who was still persistently scratching her side, "shouldn't we be heading over to the Big House now, however? Chiron is probably already waiting on us."
Percy's sea green eyes widen marginally, obviously having lost track of time while talking to the chit, before grabbing ahold of Hadrian's hand and impatiently began pulling him towards their destination.
Looking over his shoulder, Percy waved a hand towards Annabeth, yelling out a goodbye.
Hadrian and Percy sit in front of Chiron, both silently listening as he explains to them the details of the quest.
"I need to stress the urgency of this quest to you, it is very time sensitive. You only have ten days till the Summer Solstice, which is the deadline Zeus gave Poseidon to get his Master Bolt back. If you two cannot get the bolt back to Zeus by then, than I fear for the safety of our world. Olympus will be divided into a war, and I honestly do not know which side would have the best chance of winning." Chiron stops talking momentarily to level Percy and Hadrian with a hard look. "Do you understand the gravity of this situation?"
Both Hadrian and Percy nod their heads seriously, grimly.
"The entrance to the Underworld is located in Las Vegas. It would normally only take a few hours to get there, however because you are both sons of Zeus' brothers, there is a possibility that he might very well blast you from the sky, seeing as it is his domain."
Percy's eyebrows crinkle together. "Then how will we get there?"
"I will have Argus drive you into the city, but after that you are unfortunately on your own." Chiron gives Percy a reassuring smile. "It is not like we are sending you woefully under prepared though. You will be given ten drachmas to use as you wish on this quest. Remember to spend it wisely."
Percy nods his head before turning and giving Hadrian a brave smile.
"Are you ready to go? Got Everything?"
Hadrian gestures to the small backpack resting against his back.
As Hadrian and Percy stand to head out Chiron calls out to them.
"Are you sure you do not want Grover to accompany you?"
Percy shakes his head despondently. "I already asked him but the Council will not allow him to accompany us. Something about someone turning into a tree the last time he tried to help a demigod?"
The only response that Chiron gave was a sad shake of his head.
Percy and Hadrian were silently making their way to were Argus was supposed to meet them with the car outside of Camp Half-Blood when they heard the sound of Percy's name being called.
"Percy! Wait up!"
Stopping and turning around, both emerald and sea-green eyes land on Luke, who was jogging to catch up with them.
"I'm glad I caught you. I have something for you that should help you on your quest." Luke reaches into the bag hanging off his shoulder and brings out a small box. Handing it over to Percy who gratefully takes it. Pulling the lid off the box, Percy is surprised to find a pair of converse with small white wings attached to the back. Looking questioningly at Luke, Luke is quick to explain.
"They are my dad's, he has hundreds of them. The wings on the back will actually allow you to fly, I figured that they might come in handy for you later down the road. You never know what you are going to run into, especially seeing as how this is your first quest." Luke's smile seems genuine enough, his eyes gleaming with friendliness.
Percy smiles broadly back at Luke before placing the small box inside of his backpack. "Thank you, Luke. I will be sure to remember them, I bet they will come in handy at one point or another."
"Another thing, I want you to take this shield, it should be able to help you in any fight you get in."
Luke throws Percy a shield, the design on the front reminding Hadrian of Medusa's head.
As Luke and Percy continue the small chatter, Luke giving Percy small hints of advice, Hadrian's eyes narrow on Percy's backpack. He sensed the curse placed on the shoes, but could not risk saying anything, because magic sensing did not fall into the category or powers he could have inherited from his father. Hadrian knew that the shoes would try to drag Percy into the pits of Tartarus and he be damned if he let such a fate befall upon his mate. He also could sense Zeus' Master Bolt hidden in a containment spot in the shield. Silently vowing to come up with a reason to convince Percy to part with the shoes, Hadrian zones back in on the conversation.
"It was great seeing you before the quest. Again, thanks for the gifts and all the advice."
Luke only claps Percy on the back. "Think nothing of it. Just come back safe. You are the only one who can end the storm that's brewing up top."
"You can count on me and Hadrian." Giving Hadrian a small smile as he said it.
Luke's grin is blinding. "I know I can."
Waving them off, Luke jogs back down to the camp.
Watching him go, Hadrian turns to Percy and gives him a serious look.
"You cannot use the shoes he gave you."
Percy's eyebrows knight in confusion. "Why not?"
"Think Percy, you are the son of the sea god. As of right now, your father and Zeus are in the middle of preparing for war. If Zeus were to find you in his realm, what do you think he would do to you?"
Percy audibly gulps, seeing where Hadrian was coming from. However, he would feel bad if he simply threw the gift away.
"We will keep the shoes until we find a good use for them, how about that?"
Hadrian nods his head in agreement, knowing his mate is too kind hearted too haphazardly through away something that had just been given to him.
"We need to hurry and get to Argus though, before he decides that we are too much trouble and leaves us behind."
Hurriedly nodding his head, Percy begins running through the forest and past the border of Camp Half-Blood, Hadrian following closely behind him.
Sitting in the back of the small black Nissan, Hadrian contemplates the best way to get them to his father's realm. He knew flying was out of the option, which left them either hitch-hiking or taking a bus. Looking at his mate, who seemed in heavy thought himself, Hadrian thought it best if they were to take a bus.
Percy blinks when Argus suddenly stops on a semi-deserted street.
"This is your stop boys, good luck."
Both Percy and Hadrian mumble thanks before climbing out. Standing on the sidewalk and watching the car drive away, Percy turns to Hadrian with wide eyes.
"This is it, Hadrian! This is our first quest."
Hadrian smiles indulgently at Percy. "Yes it is, and we are going to kick this quest's arse!"
"What do you think we should do first?" Percy looks imploringly at Hadrian, who sighs.
"We should decide whether we want to hitch-hike or catch a bus to Las Vegas. Hitch-hiking would be cheaper but taking a bus could get us there faster."
Percy nods his head slowly, mulling over the options in his head before finally coming to a conclusion.
"I agree, we should take the bus, hitch-hiking is unreliable and our quest is time sensitive."
Nodding his head, inwardly pleased at his mate's decision, Hadrian followed Percy to the bus stop.
As the number seven bus pulls up to the curb and opens its' door, Percy and Hadrian quickly get on it, each dropping a Drachma into the driver's scaly green hand.
Taking a seat in the back, Hadrian and Percy squash into a seat together.
They had been on the bus for about three hours before it came to another stop. Hadrian instinctively looks up and is surprised to note The Furies getting on and heading back to sit next to them. Glancing over to make sure Percy is still sound asleep, Hadrian leans over to Alecto.
"What are you three doing here?" Hadrian hisses softly.
Alecto's black eyes subserviently drop to the ground, recognizing Hadrian as the son of her master.
"We have been sent here to help move along the quest."
Hadrian gives her a confused look. "It has only been three hours."
Alecto nods her head before sharing a look with her two sisters. Turning back around she whispers her reply back to him.
"Yes, but Fate has intended young Perseus to run into Medusa, and he cannot do that unless we attack him now. It will cause him to escape, running right into her lair."
Hadrian's emerald eyes cut back to his mate, who was peacefully slumbering against the window.
"Attack me now, it should cause enough of a racket to wake him and make him engage in the fight."
Alecto and her sisters solemnly dip their heads in response before reverting to their true forms and attacking the god with zealous.
Percy's lungs burn with each breath he took. He and Hadrian had the fight of their lives with Mrs. Dodds and the two other old ladies. They barely made it out with there lives; jumping, running and ducking away from the fireballs that had been blasted at them.
Gasping loudly and leaning against the tree he was closest to, Percy presses his hand against the stitch he had acquired in his side. Looking over at Hadrian he was slightly miffed that the other boy was not having the same problem.
"How are you not dying right now? We just ran over two miles, and that is AFTER fighting The Furies!"
Hadrian laughs boisterously at Percy. "Because, unlike you, I was trained from a young age to believe that cardio is a very important thing to be good at."
Percy's eyes narrow on Hadrian before he mumbles curses at the other boy under his breath, not aware that he can hear him. Hadrian only smirks.
Finally catching his breath, Percy stands back up, and gestures in the direction in front of them.
"I think I see a building over in that direction."
Silently following behind Percy as they make their way along the slightly woodened path, Hadrian already has a bad feeling of what is about to happen.
Approaching a slightly decrepit building with the name "Aunty Em's Garden Gnome Emporium" written across the top in fading red letters, Percy and Hadrian notice the stone statues littered around the front. Upon closer inspection, Percy sees cobwebs growing on some of them, while others look to be in pristine condition.
Shuddering slightly at the life-like quality of the statues, Percy continues to the front of the shop, where he opens the door and beckons Hadrian to go in before him.
As if hearing the small bell ding at the opening of the door, a young looking woman enters from the back of the shop. She is wearing sunglasses and a turban wrapped around her head.
"Hello! Hello! Why, it is not every day that I get two such strapping looking lads that come into my shop!"
The woman accosts Hadrian and Percy into an adjourning room that contained a small table and chairs; obviously her dining room.
"What are you two boys doing in here? It is not often I get business."
Percy and Hadrian share a look before Percy answers her.
"My friend and I are traveling to Las Vegas, unfortunately our car broke down a couple miles back. We spotted your shop off in the distance and decided to stop in to stop in and catch our breath before we continued on our way to find a gas station."
Aunty Em nodded along with the story, faking genuine sympathy.
"Poor, poor boys, why don't I feed you something so that you get a little food in your stomachs. Free of charge, of course."
Percy nods along enthusiastically, while Hadrian watches who he knows to be Medusa play his mate into one of her little games.
Watching 'Aunty Em' walk into the back room, supposedly the kitchen, Hadrian turns to his mate.
"Percy, something fishy is going on here."
Percy's sea-green eyes regard Hadrian in confusion.
"What do you mean?"
"The life-like quality of the statues, the deserted look to this shop, the fact that 'Aunt Em' is wearing a turban and sunglasses." Hadrian gives Percy a serious look. "Think Percy, Aunty Em... Em..."
Percy looks deep in thought before his eyes widen.
"Medusa."
"So you figured me out so early into the game, you are a smart one, Son of Hades." Whipping their heads around to Medusa, who was thankfully still wearing her glasses, the two boys stand up slowly and begin to back towards the door.
"It was not that hard, Medusa, the signs were there for anyone who was willing to look for them."
Medusa releases a hissy laugh. "Yes, but most do not."
Reaching up to unwind the turban around her head, a group of snakes is revealed. Smiling maliciously at Percy, Medusa begins to slowly approach them.
"Young Percy, I used to date your father."
Medusa removes her sunglasses quickly, exposing her eyes. Thankfully Hadrian is quick enough to draw Percy's eyes away from her face.
"Do not look her directly in her eyes."
Percy nods and they both make a run for the garden maze that is out the backdoor.
Hadrian ducks behind a column of vines. He knows that he cannot interrupt in Percy's quest, but Medusa has it out for Poseidon. Hadrian could easily defeat Medusa as if she was nothing more than a fly, but Percy cannot. The only training Percy has is the informal and relatively short training he had received while at the camp. Rolling his eyes skywards, Hadrian silently warns his father and uncle that if he thought Percy was in mortal trouble, like being turned to stone, he would immediately step in.
Glancing out of the corner of his eye, Hadrian notices Percy using his IPod as a reflective device to help him see Medusa. Hadrian smirks at how clever he was on his feet.
Feeling Medusa's magic hastily approaching, Hadrian knows Percy must have seen her reflection because he unleashes Riptide.
"Tell me Perseus, are your eyes really as beautiful as I have been told they are? Do they really look just like your fathers?" Medusa's voice echoes through the room ominously.
Percy's eye twitches as he stealthily moves from behind the column he was hiding behind and approaches Medusa from behind.
Silently lifting Riptide higher in his hands, Percy swigs the celestial sword in a wide arc, beheading Medusa in one clean movement.
Hadrian whistles as he comes out of his hiding spot. The fight was rather anti-climatic; he was expecting Medusa to put up more than a fight than she did.
"Good job, Perce."
Percy gives Hadrian a cheeky grin before glaring at Medusa's head. Bending down and picking up the head, being careful to not look into her eyes, Percy takes it into the reception area where he begins looking for a box. After five minutes of searching, Percy finds a box just big enough to fit Medusa's head in.
Placing her head in the box and writing the receiving address onto the box, Hadrian laughs softly from his spot watching beside Percy.
"The gods are not going to like that very much."
"Well, it will show them that I am done fucking around. Besides," Percy gives Hadrian a mischievous smile. "I know how the gods love their gifts. I am sure they will just die when they receive this one."
Hadrian laughs, as he watches the 'gift' disappear into a cloud of smoke.
Hadrian and Percy sit on the train heading to Vegas. The day had been long and Hadrian knew Percy was at his breaking point, the head proved it. Hadrian knew that Percy felt like ever since finding out his true parentage, his life had been made into a literal hell. He was constantly looked down upon, belittled and accused of acts he did not commit.
Hadrian could only hope that after the quest was finished he could take Percy to his own private dimension. It was quiet and peaceful there, him being the only 'human' inhabitant. He though Percy would find the tranquility enjoyable.
Looking over at his mate, who was again sleeping soundly against the side of Hadrian's arm. Smiling down at the sleeping boy, Hadrian began softly running his fingers through the other's hair, humming a soft lullaby under his breath.
The train lurched to a halt at the Gateway Arch and Percy and Hadrian made their way off.
Watching Percy stretch his arms above his head, his shirt riding up to reveal golden skin, causes Hadrian's mouth to water slightly.
Forcing himself to look away, Hadrian coughs slightly to gain Percy's attention.
"We need to stock up on our supplies. We still have six drachmas left, I will take three to get clothes, you should take the other half to grab some food. We will meet back up on the bottom level before we finish heading to Vegas."
Percy nods his head before heading to the elevator, usually they had food in gift shops, he was hoping to snag a few things for him and Hadrian.
Hadrian… now that was a whole new can of worms that Percy could not decide whether to open or not. He had found Hadrian gorgeous since that first night he met him at camp, and hanging out with him every day since cemented the fact that he had a huge crush on him.
The only problem was that he did not know if Hadrian preferred girls or guys. The entire month and a half that Percy knew Hadrian, he had not seen him check out anybody at camp. He did not tell Percy if he found anyone attractive. It honestly scared Percy, how was he supposed to tell the guy who became like a best friend to him that he was in love with them?
Hadrian was always the first to jump to Percy's aid, always the first to defend him. Hadrian only ever talked to him, and Percy did not know if that was only because he was the only one Hadrian could stand or because Hadrian secretly liked him as well.
Which brought him to the topic of Annabeth. Percy knew that Annabeth liked him, she told him as such before his quest. He had to break it to her that he was gay, only being saved from what was going to be her possible wrath when Hadrian showed up. He could still remember her hand resting on his arm. It made him sick. It should be Hadrian's hand resting on his arm, always.
That was part of the reason Percy wanted Hadrian to go on this quest with him. It would help them bond, and hopefully become something more. Percy could swear he remembered someone once telling him that life and death situations helped bring people together, he could only hope.
Jumping slightly at the soft ding that went off as the elevator reached its destination, Percy was surprised when the doors opened up to the very top floor. The arch.
Cautiously stepping out of the elevator, he notices a pudgy woman and her dog standing in front of him.
"Hello Perseus, we have heard you have been a naughty boy."
The words would not have freaked Percy out as bad if they did not come from the dog's mouth.
Stepping back slightly, Percy stutters over his words.
"W-who are you?"
"I am Chimera and this is my mother, Echidna. How dare you not recognize us!"
The Chimera dispels its form of a Chihuahua and swipes its monstrous tail at Percy, effectively hitting him.
Percy drops down to his knees, the gash from Chimera was oozing green blood and burning horribly.
Dragging his body towards the edge of the arch as Chimera prowls around him, Echidna watching dispassionately, Percy sees the Mississippi River flowing underneath him. Looking back at the two, he knows he only has one choice. Jump or die.
Swallowing his courage, Percy pushes himself off the edge, barely missing Chimera's teeth from tearing into him.
Hadrian stands in line with the clothes he had picked out for himself and Percy, while it would have been extremely easy to just conjure them clothes, it would have given himself away.
Sighing loudly, Hadrian watches the small television stationed in the little gift shop he was in. Hadrian's immortal heart almost stops when Percy's face is plastered across the screen, with who he assumes to be his step dad accusing Percy of being dangerous ad kidnapping, and possibly killing, his mother.
Internally cursing, Hadrian pays for the clothes and heads to the first floor, where he is supposed to meet Percy.
Hadrian scans the area with his eyes, and upon not finding Percy, scans it was more with his magic. Eyes widening slightly as he picks up the signatures of Echidna and Chimera right on top of his mate, Hadrian hurries outside where he feels his mate's signature rapidly falling.
Upon exiting the building, Hadrian watches his mate's form splashing deep into the Mississippi water.
Knowing that the water would heal any wounds that the Chimera were likely to have given him, seeing as he could not do it himself, Hadrian sat down and patiently waited for Percy to resurface.
Hadrian did not have to wait long. Percy emerged from the water about ten minutes later. Belatedly noticing that Percy's clothes were dry, Hadrian rolls his eyes.
"So?!"
Percy shakes his head before replying. "A Nereid told me that we needed to go to the ocean before heading to the Underworld, but that was it."
Hadrian nods his head and they head back inside the train station, Hadrian placing a small notice-me-not charm on Percy.
Exciting the train to Denver, Hadrian and Percy head into a small diner, hoping to grab something to eat.
As they finish ordering their food, Hadrian tenses, recognizing the aura of the god of war approaching the diner.
Sure enough, Ares walked in not seconds later, his red eyes easily visible behind his sunglasses. Spotting the duo, Ares begins towards their table and flops down in the spot next to Hadrian, much to his chagrin.
"Well, if it isn't the two forbidden children." Hadrian glares at Ares, while Percy looks on, confused to who he was.
"Well, if it isn't the god of war." Was Hadrian's automatic response. He knew that Ares was helping Luke, he benefited from war befalling upon Olympus. He was the war god.
"Why so hostile, little death?" Ares' words were spoken with humor, but Hadrian could tell he was pissed that a 'demigod' spoke back to him.
"Oh, no reason." Hadrian's voice was indifferent.
Ares rolled his red eyes before focusing on Percy.
"I have a proposition for ya."
Percy cocks an eyebrow at Ares. If he could make Hadrian angry in the minute he had been here, then he would treat him with indifference.
"If you retrieve my shield from Waterland, I will not only give you a ride to Vegas, but I will also give you information on your mom."
Percy glares at Ares. "My mom is dead."
Snorting, Ares looks at Percy with amusement.
"Do you really believe that, kid?"
Percy shares a look with Hadrian, who shrugs but nods his head.
"Fine. But you better not be lying."
Walking through the deserted paths of Waterland, Hadrian kept casting silent looks at Percy. He knew Percy's mom was not dead, his dad was just holding her 'hostage'.
Sighing silently, Hadrian hoped that when all was said and done, Percy could forgive him for playing a part in this deception.
"There it is." Uttered Percy, pointing to the 'Tunnel of Love'.
Hadrian rolled his eyes at the clichéd name, knowing it must have been Aphrodite who got Ares to agree to go on the ride. He truly did not want to know what she had to bribe him to do it.
Entering the tunnel with Percy, Hadrian instantly spotted Ares shield, and Aphrodite's scarf, sitting in the heart shaped seat.
Percy watches as Hadrian bends down to grab the shield, silently admiring the view it gave him, when he heard something. It sounded like millions of little legs hitting the floor at once.
Hadrian's eyes widened at the small 'H' symbol of Hephaestus carved into the ride. Whipping his head up at the sound of what he knew to be Hephaestus' mechanical spider collection, Hadrian hurried over to his mate.
"We need to leave, now!"
Percy nodded his head, but before the two could get anywhere, water began raising and knocking them off of their feet, the small spiders all racing to be the first to bite into their flesh.
Percy, in a fit of inspiration, uses his gift for water to turn the tides and sweep the little bugs away from them, effectively destroying them.
Percy laughed at Hadrian's drowned cat appearance, he himself being dry.
Noticing the small camera situated in the corner behind Hadrian, Percy does a small bow towards it, knowing the god is most likely watching.
Once back at the diner, Hadrian and Percy wait rather impatiently for Ares to show up. They had a bone or two to pick with him.
Hearing Ares' motorcycle pull up beside them, Percy roughly throws the shield and scarf at him.
"You almost got us killed!"
Ares roughly laughs. "Ah, but you two are still alive."
Scowling, Percy gestures with his hand. "We got your shield back for you, now tell me what you know about my mother."
"Your mother is still alive she is being held hostage by Hades," Ares points at Hadrian, "Little Deaths here father."
Percy gives Hadrian a pained look before turning back to Ares.
"And our ride?"
Ares gestures towards a truck a few feet from them.
It is a large white van with 'Kindness International' written across the side.
"Better hurry up and catch it, before it leaves without you." Ares laughs one last time before jumping back on his motorcycle and speeding off.
Percy and Hadrian both glare after Ares' retreating back. If Hadrian was not pretending to be a demigod he would have wiped the floor with that smug bastard's face.
Huffing he turns towards Percy.
"We might as well get in it, gods cannot go back on their promises."
Percy nods and they both sneak into the white van, noticing the sad looking state of all the animals inside it.
"How can they call it 'Kindness' International if all these animals look like they have not been fed in weeks?"
Hadrian shrugs, but he feels anger welling up inside of him.
"I do not know Percy, but believe me, something will be done about it."
Percy smiles at Hadrian.
"That is why I like you so much, Hare. You are so passionate about things other people would not even look twice at."
Hadrian shifts uncomfortably, not used to people, especially his mate, focusing so much on him.
"Things like this just irritate me is all. Animals depend on you to care for them if they are caged up, so it should be your responsibility to at least feed them."
Percy nods in agreement to everything Hadrian said.
Silently staring at Hadrian, Percy could not help but notice how beautiful his eyes were. Acidic-emerald green with amethyst circling his eyes, and small flakes of black sprinkled throughout the iris.
"Your eyes are beautiful." As soon as the words left his mouth, Percy wished he could take them back, because there was no going back from that. He just hoped Hadrian did not hate him or call him a faggot.
Hadrian smiled gently at his mate, feeling the worry, fear, and unease rolling off of him in waves.
"Thank you Percy, I find your eyes quit beautiful also."
Percy felt his heart stutter. "You do?"
"Yes, and I have since the first moment I met you."
Percy takes in a harsh breath. All his worries and fears had just been diminished in that one sentence.
Leaning over closer towards Hadrian, Percy grabbed his hand.
"Do you think I could…" Percy trailed off, not able to finish his sentence.
"Kiss me?"
Percy nods his head, throat tight.
"Yes."
Percy smiles brightly before slowly, giving Hadrian the chance to pull away, brings his chapped lips against Hadrian's own velvet ones.
It was their first kiss and Percy couldn't find it anymore perfect.